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Broad Theater Discusses Women-Only Screening of 'Wonder Woman'

Art-house theater The Broad will join a handful of cinemas in America to offer a women-only screening of the new superhero film Wonder Woman. The Mid-City movie house spoke with NoDef about their decision to take part in the specialty screening, set to take place on Thursday (6.8).

As The Broad’s ticketing portal noted, the 7PM show will be open to “all of our guests who identify as women. Refunds will be given for mistaken purchases, but men will be turned away for this show. Sorry dudes.”

Across the country, participating theaters like the Alama Drafthouse branches in Austin and NYC have garnered some backlash from male moviegoers for the ‘exclusionary’ screening. For The Broad team, their involvement is a direct response to the New Orleans community.

“The sole reason,” explained Michael Domangue, manager at The Broad, “was the huge demand for it from our guests. We received dozens of calls and emails from women who wanted to experience something that no other theater in the city was willing to offer.”

Though the Mid-City movie house has operated as one of the few theaters across the country to take part in such politically-charged cinema events as the human rights-focused film fest Patois and the international protest screening of 1984 in early April, Domangue insists, “this is not a statement screening.” He continued, "this is simply listening to our neighbors who asked for something special from us, and we are happy to deliver.”

DC Comics’ Wonder Woman is the first female-led superhero movie in the modern cinematic era dominated by DC and Marvel universes, and follows a 75 year journey from the character’s comic book beginnings to the big screen. The most iconic depictions of the character include Lynda Carter’s portrayal in a 1970s television series and in several animated Justice League movies.

The titular hero is played by Gal Gadot, an actress and former soldier in the Israeli Defense Forces. Before hopping aboard Wonder Woman's invisible plane, Gadot was known for her role in the Fast & Furious franchise, as well as parts in action-comedies Date Night, Knight and Day, and Keeping up with the Joneses. Gadot first picked up the golden lasso to play the role in 2016’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and will reprise the character in the upcoming Justice League movie.

In addition to the female-only audience on Thursday, The Broad has made plans for the entire theater staff to be made up of women as well, as they “helped make The Broad one of the best movie watching experiences in New Orleans.” Said Domangue, “we think that this screening is for them as well as our guests.”

As of Friday (6.2), the nationwide opening day of Wonder Woman, the specialty screening had sold out. View additional showtimes and information here.